The Hawks yesterday formally announced an exclusive alliance with FanDuel. The partnership will provide fantasy players with opportunities to receive VIP hospitality experiences during Hawks home games and will also grant FanDuel prime marketing space at Philips Arena. The deal includes the appearance of FanDuel company marks along the sideline of the Philips Arena playing surface. FanDuel will also become a presenting partner of coach Mike Budenholzer’s weekly local radio show (Hawks).
BROWN AND BLUE: The WALL STREET JOURNAL’s Sara Germano writes Nike, in winning the apparel deal for the Univ. of Michigan, is “coming face to face with an old foe: khakis.” The UM football team is coached by Jim Harbaugh, “one of the best-known holdout aficionados of khakis.” When Harbaugh last winter announced his return to his alma mater, “there was a run on khakis in Ann Arbor and a ‘Khaki Out’ by Michigan fans at a basketball game.” UM Associate AD/External Communications & PR Kurt Svoboda said that Harbaugh “doesn’t have a separate provision in the Nike deal concerning his wardrobe” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/9).
BEAR NECESSITIES: Brown Univ. has “reached a five-year agreement that will make Nike the official provider of apparel, footwear and equipment for its 38 intercollegiate athletic teams." All athletic teams, coaches and staff “will have access to uniforms, warm-ups, practice gear and coaching and athletic department apparel” (PROVIDENCEJOURNAL.com, 7/8).
MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL: U.S. swimmer Elizabeth Beisel has joined Mutual of Omaha’s Gold Medal Team, a key component of the insurance and financial services company’s sponsorship of USA Swimming. Beisel’s addition brings the Gold Medal Team count to 15 athletes, including Ian Crocker, Anthony Ervin, Misty Hyman, Jason Lezak and Dana Vollmer (Mutual of Omaha).
